Control mechanism for presses



Sept. 5, 1939. y E L HYD 2,171,563

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Filed Sept. 3, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.-2

INVENTQR ELBERT L. HYDE BY a4 a7 1 I W E. L. -HYDE Sept. 5, 1939.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRESSES Filed Sept. 3, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-6Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHQE CONTROL MECHANISM FORPRESSES Application September 3, 1937, Serial No. 162,292

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in control mechanism for pressingmachines.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide in a powerclosed pressing machine control means for the power means which isactuated by spaced safety manuals having two stages of operation. Thesemanuals are arranged in their first stage of operation to actuate thecontrol means for a press closing operation, but so arranged that uponrelease of either manual the press will open. A maintaining means forholding the press closed is provided and operable by second stageoperation of the manuals. One of the features of the present inventionis the provision of an enabling block without which the second stage ofmanual operation is ineifective to establish the maintaining means. Thisblock is arranged for movement into enabling position upon the pressreaching a safe closed position where the operators hand cannot becaught between the pressing elements and injured.

Several modifications of my invention are disclosed. In one form the twostages of manual operation occur in the same direction. In the secondform the two stages occur in directions at angles to each other, and ina third form the two stages of operation occur in opposite directions.

Ihe various novel features of my invention are more fully shown in theaccompanying drawings and descriptioon and the essential features willbe set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of a pressing machine inopen position with one form of my improved control mechanism showndiagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a view of the press of Fig. 1 after the samehas reached a safe closed position with the control mechanismdiagrammatically shown in corresponding position; Fig. 3 is a view ofthe control mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the parts in fullyactuated position; Figs. 4 to '7 show a modified form where the secondstage of manual operation is in the opposite direction to the first;Figs. 4, 5 and 6 correspond respectively to open, safe closed and fullyclosed positions as in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 7 is an elevational view takenapproximately on the line of Fig. 4; Figs. 8 to 11 show a thirdmodification where one of the manuals has a second stage of operation atan angle to its first stage of operation; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 arediagrammatic views of control mechanism analogous to those shown inconnection with the previous modifications, that is, Fig. 8 correspondsto press open position, Fig. 9 to safe closed position, and Fig. 10 tofully closed position of the press; while Fig.

11 is a plan View of the control mechanism of Fig. 8.

While my invention is applicable to various types of pressing machines,I have illustrated the same as applied to a type of press commonly foundin garment and laundry presses having a frame I2 supporting a pressingbed l3 and also supporting a yoke M which carries a pressing head I5into and out of engagement with bed l3 upon manipulation of the togglel6 by the fluid motor H. A spring I8 tends to return the head to openposition. Fluid supply for motor I1 is by way of conduits l9 and 20valve casing 2| and conduit 22. Casing 2| houses a normally closed 15inlet valve 2|a and a normally open outlet valve 2 lb on a stem 2|cwhich is provided with a yieldable end 2 Id and with a shoulder 2|e.Valves in casing 2| are actuated by means of the floating whifiietree23, the opposite ends of which are engageable by pins 24 and 25connected with the manually operated push buttons 26 and 21respectively. Each button has two stages of operation. During the firststage the springs 28 are not compressed until the collars 29 hit theshoulders 30. Following this a second stage movement occurs uponcompression of springs 28. First stage movement is sufficient to actuatethe valves in casing 2|, but because of the whifiietree arrangement bothbuttons must be coincidentally depressed. If either of the buttons isreleased 30 the valves in casing 2| return to unactuated position andthe press will open. For maintaining the press closed means is providedfor holding the valves in casing 2| in operated position. The pin 24connected with manual 26 is adapted to actuate the valves in casing 3|for this purpose, but such actuation of pin 24 is ineffective toestablish the maintaining means until the press is safe closed becauseof the air gap 32. To fill this gap a block 33 is suitably supported andpivotally connected with a rod 34 which in turn is connected with apress part, in the present instance the toggle IS. The block 33 has anarrow portion 330. normally lying over the valve stem for the valves incasing 3| and a wide portion 33b 45 which is the enabling portion of theblock.

In casing 3| is a normally closed inlet valve 3|a and a normally openoutlet valve 3|b both actuated by stem 3|c, which has a shoulder 3|d.Upon the actuation of the valves in casing 3| 5|) motive fluid issupplied through conduit I9, casing 3| and conduits 35, 36 and 31 to thediaphragm servo motors 38 and 39. Servo motor 38, when energized, actsthrough lever 4|] against shoulder 3|d to hold the valves in casing 3|in actuated 55 position. Motor 39, when energized, acts through lever 45against shoulder 2|e to hold the valves in casing 2| in actuatedposition. A conduit 42 leads to casing 43, which houses a normallyclosed outlet valve 43a operable by stem 43b.

With the press in the open position of Fig. l, the operator arranges thelay of work on bed I3 and depresses manuals 26 and 21 through the firststage of their operation. This moves the valves in casing 2| to actuatedposition, supplying motive fluid to motor I1 and movingthe press toclosed position. The press, however, will not remain closed unless themaintaining means is actuated. Upon the press reaching the safe closedposition of Fig. 2, the wide portion 33b of block 33 comes between valvestem 3|c and the pin 24 connected with button 26. Second stage movementof buttons 26 and 21 (permitted by the yielding end 2|d of valve stem 2I0 actuates the valves in casing 3| to their operated position as shownin Fig. 3. This supplies motive fluid to servo motors 38 andn39, thusholding the valves in casing 3i and 2| in actuated position as shown inFig. 3, whereupon the buttons may be released and the press will remainclosed. To open the press valve stem43b is momentarily depressed,evacuating the maintaining servo motors 3S and 89, permitting the pressto open.

While in this form of control second stage movement of buttons26 and 21is always possible, no maintaining efiect will be produced; as thevalves in casing 3| cannot. be actuated until the wide portion of block331is in the-position of Figs. 2 and 3. If thebuttons 26 and 21 aremoved through both stages of operation upon their first actuation, thepress will close, however, because the wedge shape of blockdtnpermitsthis block to be pulled from the position of Fig. 1 to that ofFigs. 2 and 3, whilethe operator holds the manuals depressed.

In the modification of Figs. 4" to '7, the control mechanism functionssimilarly-to that just described, but the second stage of manualoperation is in the opposite direction to the first. In Fig. 4 thepressing machine is shownv in the open position and control for supplyof-motive fluid to motor i1 is here of a slightlydifferent form, namely,the valves in casings 44 and :45 must both be held in actuated positionto efiectively supply fluid to motor IT. This is in ,place of thewhifiietree arrangement of Figsjl to'3. Valve .casing 44.

uses a normally closed inlet valve 44a and a normally open outlet valve441) on a common stem 440 having a yieldable end 44d and a shoulder 54e,Casing 45 houses a normally open outlet 'valve 450: on a stem 45b havinga shoulder 45c.

Manuals 45 and .41 SEIVBi'tO actuate the valves in casings 44 and 45respectively and these man uals are so spaced as to require a hand ofthe operator on each of them forztheir-coincidental.

- operation. It is obvious that if both sets of valves are not actuatedat once fluid cannot be effectively supplied to motor l1. Thecfirststage of manual'operation is downwardly and serves to move the valves incasings and-45 to actuated position.

y, the valves in casings 44 and 45 in actuated posi- -tion.

The mechanism shown for this purpose comprises a slide 48 suitablymounted in the press frame for reciprocation and provided with a catch46 connected by suitable linkage with a catch release handle 55 andspring means 5| for maintaining the catch in its extended position.Located above the slide 48 is a valve casing 52 housing a normallyclosed inlet valve 52a and a normally open outlet valve 521) on stem 520which is provided with a shoulder 52d. An air gap 53 between slide 48and valve stem 52c normally prevents upward movement of slide 48 fromactuating the valves in casing 52. A block 54 suitably mounted forreciprocation is pivotally connected by rod 55 with the press toggle l6.When the press reaches safe closed position the straightened togglemoves block 54 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Figs. 5and 6, thus enabling the upward movement of slide 48 to actuate thevalves in casing 52.

Operation of the valves in casing 52 supplies motive fluid from conduit56 through conduit 51, casig 52, and conduits 53, 59, 60 and 6| to servomotors 52, 63 and 64. Motor 62, when energized, acts through lever 65 tohold the valves in casing 52 in actuated position. Motor 63 acts throughlever to hold the valve in casingt45 in actuated position. Motor 64,through lever 61, will hold the valves in casing 44 in actuatedposition. Conduit 66 leads to casing 59, whichhouses a normally closedoutlet valve 66a operable by stem 6%.

The operation of this modified form is as follows:

With the press in the open position, the operator depresses manuals 46and 41, which moves the valves in casing 44 and 45 to'supply motivefluid through conduit 56, casing and conduits 15 and 1| to motor 51. Thefirst stage of manual operation carries the manuals to the position ofFig. 5 where manual 46 engages beneath catch 4B on slide 48. Until thepress is safe closed, release of manual 46 or 41 will open'the press.Release of manual 41 exhausts pressure from motor 41, as willv beobvious. Release of manual 45 will cause the same to move upwardly underthe influence of its spring, returning the valves in casing 44' to theirunactuated position, and while it may move the slide 48 upwardly, yetbecause of the gap 53 no maintaining effect will be produced. However,when the press is safe closed,

block 54 moves into the position of Figs. 5 and 6, whereupon release'ofmanual 46 causes the same to be moved upwardly by its spring, as shownin Fig. 6. This carries slide 48 upwardly and through block 54 actuatesthe valves in casing 52 to the position of Fig. 6, energizing servomotors 62, 63 and 54 and holding all of the associated valves inoperated position. The press will thus remain closed and the manuals maybe released. To open the press valve stem 6% is momentarily depressed,evacuating all of the maintaining servo motors. Also release handle 50must be actuated to release catch 49 whereupon slide 48 will return toits lower position ready for the next operation.

It will be noted in comparing the yieldable valve stem .end 44d in Figs.4 and 5, that the spring of this yieldable end is compressed beforemanual 46 engages beneath catch 49. Therefore, during second stagemovement of manual 46 upwardly, the valves in casing 44 are not releasedbut remain in actuated position until the valves in casing 52 areactuated to establish the maintaining effect of servo motor 64.

In the modification of Figs. 8 to 11, one of the manuals is given asecond stage of operation at an angle to its first stage of operation.It will. be understood that the control mechanism of these drawings isintended for use in connection with thepress of previous modifications,which press will have an operating motor |1. The supply of fluid to thismotor is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 4 to 7, thatis to say, these same valves in casing 44 and casing 45 must be operatedby manuals l2 and 13 to supply motive fluid to motor ll. Here, however,the valves in casing 52 are placed to one side of manual 12 instead ofabove the manual as in Figs. 4 to 7. The valves, however, operate thesame and are given the same reference numbers as are all other partshaving similar functions.

It will be noted that manual '12 is urged upwardly by spring M andtoward the left, as viewed in Figs. 8 to 10, by spring 75. This manualoperates in an L-shaped slot '55 in the press frame. The first stage ofmanual movement is downwardly from the position of Fig. 8 to that ofFig. 9. This actuates the valves in casing 44. The second stage ofoperation of manual. 72 is toward the right, as viewed in the variousfigures from the position of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 10. This movement isineffective to actuate the valves in casing 52 unless the block 54 is inthe position of Figs. 9 and 10. This block is in all respects analogousto block 54 described previously, and is connected with the press partsso as to be moved from the normal position of Fig. 8 when the press isopen to the position of Figs. 9 and 10 when the press is safely closed.I

It is thought the operation of this form of the device will beunderstood. When the press is open manuals l2 and T3 are in the positionof Fig. 8 and are then depressed to the position of Fig. 9. Thisactuates the valves in casings 44 and d5, as shown, and supplies motivefluid to the motor ll. If either of the manuals is released at thistime, the press will open. Second stage manual operation of manual 72from the position of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 10 is effective to establishthe maintaining means if the press is safely closed so that block is inthe position of Fig. 10. In this figure it will be noted that movementof manual 12 to the right has moved the valves in casing 52 to theiractuated position, thus supplying motive fiuid to the servo motors 62,63 and M so as to hold the valves in casings 52, 45 and i i respectivelyin their actuated positions. The press will then remain closed until therelease valve 69a is opened.

It Will be noted that in all forms of the device, second stage operationof one or more of the manuals is inefiective toset the maintaining meansunless the press has safely closed, moving an enabling block into properposition.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressingmembers and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, a controlmember for causing press closing action of said mechanism, a controlmember for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first andsecond stages of operation for actuation of said first and second namedcontrol members respectively, there being an operative connectionbetween said manual means in its first stage of operation and said firstnamed control member requiring coincidental use of both hands of theoperator on said manual means for effective operation of the saidcontrol member, there being a relationship between said manual means inits second stage of operation and said second named control memberincluding an air gap normally rendering said manual means inoperative toactuate the said member, a gap-filling block for enabling operation ofsaid second named control member, said block being in inoperativeposition when said press is open, means for moving said block toenabling position by movement of said pressing members to safe-closedposition, and one of said control members being movable to inoperativeposition for causing the press to open.

2. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressingmembers and power actuated operating me .ianism therefor, a controlmember for causing press-closing action of said mechanism, a controlmember for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first andsecond stages of operative movement for actuation of said first andsecond named control members respectively, said second stage movementbeing in the same general direction as said first stage, there being anoperative connection between said manual means in its first stage ofoperation and said first named control member requiring coincidental useof both hands of the operator on said manual means for effectiveoperation of the said control member, there being a relationship betweensaid manual means in its second stage of operation and said second namedcontrol member including an air gap normally rendering said manual meansinoperative to actuate the said member, a gap-filling block for enablingoperation of said second named control member, said block being ininoperative position when said press is open, means for moving saidblock to enabling position by movement of said pressing members tosafe-closed position, and one of said control members being movable toinoperative position for causing the press to open.

3. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressingmembers and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, a controlmember for causing press-closing action of said mechanism, a controlmember for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first andsecond stages of operative movement for actua tion of said first andsecond named control members respectively, said second stage movementbeing in the opposite direction to said first stage, there being anoperative connection between said manual means in its first stage ofoperation and said first named control member requiring coincidental useof both hands of the operator on said manual means for effectiveoperation of the said control member, there being a relationship betweensaid manual means in its second stage of operation and said second namedcontrol member including an air gap normally rendering said manual meansinoperative to actuate the said member, a gap-filling block for enablingoperation of said second named control member, said block being ininoperative position when said press is open, means for moving saidblock to enabling position by movement of said pressing members tosafe-closed position, and one of said control members being movable toinoperative position for causing the press to open.

4. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressingmembers and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, a controlmember for causing press-closing action of said mechanism, a controlmember for maintaining said press closed, manual means having first andsecond stages of operative movement for actuation of said first andsecond named control members respectively, said second stage movementbeing in a lateral direction relative to said first stage, there beingan operative connection between said manual means in its first stage ofoperation and said first named control member requiring coincidental useof both hands of the operator on said manual means for effectiveoperation of the said control member, there being a relationship betweensaid manual means in its second stage of operation and said second namedcontrol member including an air gap normally rendering said manual meanssaid pressing members to safe-closed position, and

one of said control members being movable to inoperative position forcausing the press to open.

5. In a pressing machine having coacting relatively movable pressingmembers and power actuated operating mechanism therefor, control meansfor said mechanism normally in power cut-01f position, power means forholding said control means in power-supply position, twohand safetymanual means for moving said control means to power-supply position,said manual means having an additional movement other than thatnecessary to actuate said control means, a block movable by saidadditional movement of said manual means, said block normally being ininoperative position where it is not movable by said manual means, meansfor moving said block to operative position when said pressing membersreach safe-closed position, a control member for supplying power to saidpower means, said control member being positioned for actuation bymanual movement of said block, and said control member being movable toinoperative position for causing opening of said press.

ELBERT L. HYDE.

